Cross-FIR registered against clashing Namdhari groups

The police registered a case against the clashing Namdhari sect groups, a day after 12 persons were injured during a clash at a religious function at Gurudwara Namdhari Sangat, Sector 30, on Sunday.

The Namdhari sect has been divided into two units, since the death of Satguru Jagjit Singh in December, 2012.

Though, Thakur Uday Singh was appointed the successor of Satguru Jagjit Singh, a large number of Namdhari followers have refused to accept him, and since then, have been insisting to appoint Thakur Dalip Singh as the successor. Thakur Uday Singh and Dalip Singh are nephews of late Satguru Jagjit Singh.

The clash broke out at around 10.30am during a prayer session, when members of both the groups attacked each other with mikes, musical instruments and sharp-edged weapons.

Police registered a case on the complaint of Gursev Singh, a resident of Mauli Baidwan village, SAS Nagar, a follower of Namdhari sect, who believes in the supremacy of Thakur Dalip Singh.

In his complaint, he alleged, “Joga Singh Madar, Kesar Singh, Saravjit Singh, Balwinder Singh, Harwinder Singh, Baldev Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Gurbachan Singh and other unidentified people, who are all followers of the Namdhari sect and believe in the fellowship of Thakur Uday Singh, threatened and hit them near Namdhari Gurdwara, Sector 30, Chandigarh.”

A counter case was registered on the complaint of Joga Singh, a resident of Phase 10, SAS Nagar, Namdhari sect follower who believes in the fellowship of Thakur Uday Singh.

He alleged, “We were attacked by the followers of Namdhari sect who believe in the supremacy of Thakur Dalip Singh.”

Police registered a case under sections 147, 149, 323, 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for rioting, unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object, voluntarily causing hurt and criminal intimidation, at the Industrial Area police station here. The case is under investigation.

Condemning the UT police for inaction, Narinder Singh, hailing from Sirsa, who is member of the five-member committee managing affairs of the international Namdhari sangat, and believes in the supremacy of Thakur Dalip Singh, addressed a press conference here in Chandigarh.

He said, “The police failed to act on four complaints of threats. We were offering prayers on Sunday when our members were attacked by a group from Ludhiana. The police, instead of acting against them, registered a cross FIR even when the recordings show that our members were assaulted and attacked.”